"Okay! I'll keep an eye on it!"
That afternoon, Du Jianshan divided the bear meat into three batches: one batch was put into a large pot in the kitchen to make soup for the sick, weak, old and young in the village; another batch was cut into small pieces, pickled and dried, to be kept for stewing radishes in the winter; and the last batch was hidden in the earthen cellar behind his yard for emergencies.
He also specifically instructed Wang Tieniu: "Don't say a word. If we really sell this bear skin, we can get several hundred catties of grain in return. But if you let it slip, not only will the two of us be in trouble, but the whole village will suffer."
"Understood!" Wang Tieniu patted his chest. "I'd rather die than utter a single word!"
As evening approached, Old Zeng from the town arrived, followed by two militiamen wearing red armbands.
As soon as he entered the village, he headed straight for the kitchen, constantly asking along the way: "I heard you hunted a bear here? Where is the person? Where is the pelt? Where is the courage?"
“Hanging the bear skin in the backyard to dry, you’ll get your guts eaten.” Du Jianshan stopped him with a smile. “If you want to see the bones, I have them all in this jar.”
Old Zeng's face darkened: "Don't try to fool me. I'm here on behalf of the town's supply and marketing cooperative to investigate illegal hunting!"
"You can investigate." Du Jianshan stopped smiling and waved his hand. "Hand this report to him."
Tian Baoguo handed over a hunting registration form stamped with the seal of the Production and Construction Corps, which stated: "A ferocious wild bear was hunted and killed in the ×× mountain forest area. It attacked people, and the action was taken in self-defense. The case has been reported to the county forestry station for record."
Old Zeng's face stiffened. After reading the red stamp, his lips twitched: "This...this was approved by the Corps?"
"What? You want to go up and check if it's true or not?" Du Jianshan crossed his arms. "Do you want me to write a letter for you?"
"Ahem, no need, no need." Old Zeng awkwardly wiped the corner of his mouth. "Since there's approval, it's official business... So what's the guts?"
“I really ate it,” Wang Tieniu said seriously. “I also had diarrhea all day. If you don’t believe me, ask Auntie San next door. She heard me howling like a banshee last night while I was pooping.”
"..." Old Zeng's face turned a deep shade of liver, and after a long while he finally grunted, "Consider yourselves lucky. Remember next time, you have to declare everything you hunt in advance!"
After saying that, he left looking dejected.
As Tian Baoguo watched him walk away, he couldn't help but laugh and say, "Your tongue is really more effective than a hunting rifle."
Du Jianshan laughed and patted him on the shoulder: "This is nothing! Just you wait, tomorrow I'll take some men to the south slope to check out a cave. That place might really have a raccoon den."
"Okay! I'll pick a few people later and we'll go with you!"
"Remember, do it quietly."
As darkness fell, the fire crackled and popped outside the makeshift shack, casting the light on the faces of the men, which flushed red and then paled. The poacher was now bound hand and foot, his mouth stuffed with rags, and he leaned motionless against the woodpile, his head drooping. Every now and then he would struggle, only to be kicked by Wang Tieniu.
"Kick him gently," Du Jianshan frowned. "We still have to hand him over tomorrow."
Wang Tieniu curled his lip. "Fine, I'll go with the flow. With his build, if we hadn't teamed up just now, he really would have gotten away."
"I must say, he's quite the expert." Du Jianshan looked thoughtfully at the calluses on the man's wrists. "His right hand has heavy calluses, and his arm muscles are strong. He must have worked in 'the other side' for a few years."
Chen Jianshan paused upon hearing this, "You mean... a veteran?"
“He could also be a deserter,” Du Jianshan said in a low voice. “But the company needs to check his identity to see if he will tell the truth.”
Just then, Li Changgen, a veteran on night watch, came over with a water bottle. "Brothers, have some water and rest for a bit. I just boiled some water."
"Thanks, Squad Leader Li." Wang Tieniu took the water, gulped down a few mouthfuls, wiped his mouth, and said, "I think this matter is not simple."
"How so?"
“Think about it, how could a poacher dare to carry gold jewelry and food stamps? And carry a knife with him? This is not like an ordinary person who deals in mountain goods.”
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